Top 20 Lakes around Boekel

It was a beautiful tour along the Deventer canal

At the heart of the Molenheide area lies a second, unnamed fen that appears much more natural than its edges suggest. This fen lies deeper in the forest and heathland mosaic and is completely surrounded by mixed coniferous and deciduous forest that gradually transitions into open heathland. The water body is small, shallow, and highly dependent on rainwater and the local groundwater level. As a result, the water level can fluctuate significantly in wet and dry seasons, creating a dynamic peripheral zone with low peat formation, moor grass, and moist heathland vegetation. Due to its protected location, further from the edges and paths, the fen is a peaceful place where dragonflies, green frogs, and birds such as the wren and blackcap like to forage. Mosses and specific fen plants thrive there precisely because there is little human disturbance. The fen is part of the natural diversity that characterizes the Molenheide: open water amidst dense forest, interspersed with heathlands and grassy areas where highland cattle ensure that the landscape remains open.

The Molenheide fen lies within the Molenheide nature reserve, a short distance from the village of Wilbertoord, about a ten-minute walk from the town. The fen formed in a wet depression and is fed primarily by rainwater and groundwater, creating a shallow, nutrient-poor body of water typical of original heathlands. Moisture-loving plants grow around the fen, and along the edges, roughs and peaty vegetation develop, important for dragonflies and amphibians. The open water and surrounding transition zones provide an attractive habitat for breeding and foraging birds. The fen is part of a larger heathland and woodland mosaic maintained through management measures such as grazing with Highland cattle and targeted management; this ensures the area remains diverse and valuable for species that depend on an open, light-rich, and slightly moist landscape.

Bakelse plassen, I think, were created by dredging work. In the distance you can still see sand being extracted there.

beautiful piece of Kuilen with recreation area and nature mixed with everything you want

Over the years, the Bakelse Plassen have become a rich bird area, both on the banks and on the water. Daubenton's bats also thrive here. And in the early morning hours, you might encounter deer coming to drink. For example, breeding waterfowl can be found here: grebes, little grebes, mute swans, greylag geese, mallards, tufted ducks, gadwalls, little ringed plovers, moorhens, and coots. In 2019, 269 sand martins were counted, and last year, 229 sand martins were counted. Many bird species have also found their breeding grounds and habitats on the banks and the adjacent golf course. Some of the breeding species found here include: the green, black, lesser spotted and great spotted woodpecker, woodlark, barn swallows, tree pipit and meadow pipit, black redstart, stonechat, mockingbird, treecreeper, blackcap, greenfinches, goldfinches, linnet, yellowhammer and the beautiful bullfinch.

Beautiful nature

An area of over 35 hectares has been created for the development of new nature to compensate for sand extraction.